rekindled(英文版)-第6部分

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Crystal　argued；　Crystal　raced　off　in　her　car；　the　accident　happened。　By
that　time　Ross　was　on　his　way　back　to　Africa。　What　if　he　had　been　with
her　through　the　ordeal？　Would　things　have　been　different？

But　he　hadn't　been　with　her。　There　was　no　changing　that　fact。　She　had
survived。　She　had　survived。　Not　Crystal；　though。

When　she　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment　in　search　of　posure；　Ross　took
her　arm　and　said　a　quick；　〃Over　there。　Those　rocks。　You　should　sit
down。〃

〃I'm　all　right…〃

〃Then　I　want　to　sit　down！　Indulge　me！〃　He　led　her　to　a　jagged
outcropping　of　rocks。　When　they　were　seated　on　side　by　side　boulders；　he
said；　〃Okay。　Why　don't　you　tell　me　about　that　night…and　stop　looking　at
me　like　I'm　crazy。　You　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　I　know　what　I
experienced　that　night。　I'd　like　to　hear　what　you　did。〃

〃Oh；　Ross。〃　She　sighed　wearily。　〃I　don't　want　to　go　into　this。〃　She
caught　the　graceful　takeoff　of　a　tern　from　the　salt…soaked　beach。　〃It's
too　beautiful　here　to　rehash　the　past。〃

〃The　past　had　its　moments　of　beauty；　too。〃

Her　head　snapped　back；　but　the　warmth　of　his　gaze　cut　off　the　retort
that　might　have　e。　Suddenly　it　seemed　pointless　to　resist　his
request。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　choosing　the　right　words。　〃The　past　did
have　its　moments。　And；　yes；　they　were　beautiful。〃　There　was　a　soft
quality　in　her　voice　as　she　returned　to　that　night。

Ross　grasped　the　stone　on　either　side　of　him。　〃Had　you　planned　it　to
happen？　When　you　came　toward　me　from　across　that　room；　had　you　hoped
that　we'd　end　up　in　bed？〃

〃Beforehand？〃　She　looked　up　in　surprise。　〃No。　I'd　never　done　anything
like　that　before。　Oh；　we　dated　plenty　and　went　to　our　share　of　parties。
But　we　had　never；　that　is；　neither　of　us　had；　ah；　I　mean；　I　had　never。。
。〃

〃I　know。〃　He　rescued　her　from　her　floundering；　daring　to　touch　her　cheek
with　the　back　of　his　fingers。　Instinctively　she　tipped　her　face　toward
his　touch；　then　caught　herself　and　righted　her　head。

〃Were　you　sorry　you　did　it？〃　His　voice　was　low；　urgent。

〃No　。。。　Yes　。。。　I　don't　know；〃　she　finally　ended　in　a　whisper；　tugging
at　the　towel　draped　about　her　neck。　〃I　can't　give　you　a　simple　yes　or
no。　I've　never　regretted　the　act　itself　It　was　beautiful。〃

〃Then　what　is　it　about　me　that　makes　you　so　unfortable？〃

The　ensuing　silence　was　rich　with　the　sounds　of　the　shore…the　lapping　of
the　waves；　the　cry　of　the　gulls；　the　rustle　of　the　breeze　in　the　drying
leaves　of　the　wild　honeysuckle。　Each　had　the　potential　to　soothe；　yet
Chloe　remained　tense。

〃Seeing　you；〃　she　finally　confessed；　〃brings　back　memories　of　a　holiday
weekend　that　was　tragic　for　me。〃

〃Your　sister's　death。〃

Her　eyes　shot　to　his。　〃You　knew？〃　And　hadn't　tried　to　contact　her？

The　dark　sheen　of　his　hair　captured　the　golden　rays　of　the　slow…setting
sun。　〃Yes；　I　knew；　but　not　until　long　after　I'd　returned　to　Africa。　I
didn't　feel　then　that　it　was　my　place　to　contact　you。〃

〃Why　not？〃　She　didn't　understand　that　detachment。　He　was　certainly
persistent　enough　now。

〃In　the　first　place；〃　he　began；　〃it　was　pitiful；　how　long　after　the　fact
I　learned　of　it。　Sammy　wrote　me　the　news　in　a　letter　the　following
spring。〃

He　seemed　to　hesitate。　More　quietly；　he　said；　〃It　was　only　then　that　I'd
had　the　guts　to　ask　him　about　you。〃

〃But　why？〃　she　cried。

〃Because　you　weren't　the　only　one　to　have　afterthoughts　of　that　night！

From　what　I　could　see　I　had　seduced　the　virgin　daughter　of　my　host's
best　friend。　I　was　twenty…seven。　You　were　eighteen。　I　should　have　known
better。　But　the　worst　of　it　was　that　I　was　glad　I　hadn't。〃　His　voice
gentled。　〃The　memory　of　that　night　helped　me　through　many　a　lonely　night
afterward。〃

〃Oh；　Ross；〃　Chloe　whispered；　feeling　a　great　longing　inside。　〃I　wish　it
hadn't。　It's　too　late　to　go　back。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go　back。　I　want　to　go　ahead。　That's　why　I'm　here。〃

Anguished；　she　looked　down。　〃It's　no　good。　I　can't。〃

〃Can't　or　won't？　We've　been　through　this　before。　Well；〃　he　drew　in　a
breath；　〃believe　this。　I　may　have　been　immature　eleven　years　ago；
running　away　from　something　that　frightened　me；　but　I　won't　make　the
same　mistake　twice。　It　was　fate　that　brought　us　together　up　at　Rye
Beach；　and　I'll　be　damned　if　I'm　going　to　let　you　get　away。　I've　made　it
my　business　to　find　out　every　possible　thing　I　could　about　you　during
the　past　two　weeks。　And　I　know　what　happened　to　Crystal。〃

His　words　hung　in　the　air。　Her　eyes　begged　him　to　say　no　more。　She
bolstered　the　plea　with　her　low　whisper。　〃Then　you　can　understand　why　I
can't　bear　to　think　back　on　that　time。〃

〃It　was　an　accident；　Chloe！　It　wasn't　your　fault！〃

〃But　she　died。〃

〃And　you　lived；　is　that　it？　You　can't　forgive　yourself　for　that？〃

She　jumped　to　her　feet。　With　her　heart　pounding　a　thunderous　beat；　she
stared　at　him　for　an　agonized　moment　before　forcing　her　feet　to　move。
Her　steps　were　slow　at　first；　then　gained　speed　as　the　force　of　habit
took　over　and　she　jogged　toward　safer　ground。

With　pitiful　ease；　Ross　caught　up。　He　caught　her　elbow；　using　her　own
momentum　to　bring　her　around。　When　she　faced　him　at　a　full　stop；　he　held
her　by　both　arms。

〃I'm　trying　to　be　honest；〃　he　said。

〃But　it　hurts。　Can't　you　see　that？　It　hurts！〃　She　was　consumed　by　it；　a
hurt　that　was　alive　and　festering。　He　had　to　see　it　anywhere　he　looked。

〃The　only　way　the　hurt　will　stop；〃　he　chided　gently；　〃is　for　you　to　put
the　past　behind　you。〃

Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃Do　you　think　I　haven't　tried？　Do　you　think
I've　spent　the　past　eleven　years　purposely　living　with　a　ghost？〃

**skip**〃Maybe　not；　but　you've　done　it。　You　haven't　resolved　a　thing　in　the
eleven　years；　if　that　hurt　in　your　eyes　is　for　real。　It's　your
punishment；　isn't　it？　Your　punishment　for　living。〃

She　shook　her　head　and　whispered；　〃No。　That's　not　true！〃

〃Not　true？〃　he　echoed　in　a　voice　strangely　mellow。　〃Answer　me　one　thing；
Chloe。　Have　you　been　with　another　man　since　we　were　together？〃

〃That's　none　of　your　bus…〃

〃It　is　so。〃　He　took　her　face　in　his　hands；　correctly　anticipating　her
attempt　to　look　away。　His　touch　was　gentle　but　firm。　〃I　was　the　first。
It's　my　brand　that　shaped　you。　How　many　others　were　there？〃

〃That's　vulgar！〃　she　cried。

〃Maybe。　Answer　the　question。〃

〃I　won't。　Are　you　jealous；　jealous　and　guilt…ridden？　Well；　I　don't　need
either　of　those　traits　in　the　man　in　my　life。　I'm　doing　just　fine
withoutwithout…〃　Her　limbs　trembled。

Ross　drew　her　against　him；　pressing　her　cheek　to　his　chest；　wrapping　his
arms　around　her　back。　〃Without　love？〃　he　asked；　so　softly　that　she　might
not　have　heard　him　had　the　word　not　been　on　the　tip　of　her　tongue。

Incapable　of　speech　for　the　moment；　she　simply　breathed　in　the　scent
that　was　all　male；　all　Ross。　His　heart　beat　steadily　by　her　ear；
gradually　coaxing　her　own　to　slow。　His　arms　enveloped　her　and　lent　her
strength。

〃I　tried。〃　She　spoke；　unsteadily　at　first。　〃I　dated。　I　still　do。〃　It　was
easier　not　having　to　look　at　him。　〃I　even　tried　to　go　to　bed　with　one　of
them。〃

She　recalled　the　horror　of　the　moment。　〃He　decided　I　was　frigid。〃

A　deep　laugh　broke　from　Ross's　throat；　a　laugh　that　was　strangely
hoarse。　〃That's　ridiculous；〃　he　crooned　into　the　warmth　of　her　hair；　but
when　he　tipped　her　face　up　he　felt　her　stiffen。　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't。〃　His
mouth　found　hers。

She　fought　him　then。　Struggling　to　free　herself　from　the　band　of　his
arms；　she　pushed　against　his　chest；　all　the　while　trying　to　evade　his
lips；　but　he　was　stronger　than　she　ore
he　steadied　her。　His　lips　stroked　hers；　demanding　the　kind　of　response
that　he　alone　knew　she　had　in　her。

When　her　physical　strength　waned；　Chloe　tried　passivity。　The　last　thing
she　wanted　was　a　repeat　of　the　night　in　New　Hampshire　or；　worse；　that
fateful　night　back　in　New　Orleans。　She　had　no　right；　she　told　herself；
no　right！

〃e　on；　Chloe；〃　Ross　growled　against　her　lips。　〃Ease　up。〃

〃Don't…〃

She　shouldn't　have　said　anything。　The　tiny　parting　of　her　lips　gave　him
the　opening　he　needed；　and　then　she　didn't　have　a　chance。　His　tongue
invaded　her　mouth；　spreading　its　sweetness　deep。　She　told　herself　that
it　was　physical；　that　she　could　resist　if　she　wanted　to　enough；　but　her
body　betrayed　her。　It　swayed　toward　him；　weak　with　wanting。

From　an　odd　defense　mechanism；　her　mind　went　blank。　It　was　as　though　the
battle　between　guilt　and　desire　created　a　mental　void。　In　that　void
there　was　nothing　but　Ross　and　his　body；　the　lips　that　caressed　her；
arms　that　held　her　gently；　legs　that　supported　her。　Out　of　that　void
came　her　response；　slowly；　surely；　and　Ross　had　won。　Her　lips　moved
against　his；　tasting；　savoring。　The　corners　of　his　mouth；　his　firm　lips；
his　tongue；　one　small　nibble　led　to　another　until　she　returned　his　kiss
with　matching　passion。

〃Oh；　Ross；〃　she　breathed　raggedly　when　his　lips　left　hers　to　trail　fire
along　the　sensitive　cord　of　her　neck。

〃That's　it；　princess。〃

〃No。〃　That　word。　That　past。

His　breath　warmed　her　ear。　〃You'll　always　be　my　princess；　Chloe。〃　He
nibbled　at　her　lobe。　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　past。　Right　now
you're　my　princess。〃　With　a　groan；　he　pressed　her　to　him。　She　felt　his
desire　as　she　tried　to　deny　her　own；　but　that　same　coil　of　need　gnawed
within　her。　She　was　on　the　verge　of　losing　control。

〃No！〃　Her　scream　echoed　back　through　her　with　such　force　that　only
Ross's　arms　kept　her　standing。　As　she　sagged　against　him；　he　eased　down
onto　the　sand；　turning　her　to　sit　with　her　back　to　his　chest；　her　knees
bent　and　bounded　by　his。　He　said　nothing；　just　held　her；　his　arms
wrapped　around　her　middle。

Chloe　couldn't　have　moved　if　she'd　tried。　Drained　by　emotional　strain；
she　closed　her　eyes　and　breathed　in　deeply　of　the　slow…cooling　air。

When　Ross　spoke　long　moments　later；　she　was　surprised　to　hear　humor　in
his　voice。　〃Not　bad　for　a　novice。〃

〃What？〃

〃That　scream。　For　someone　who　says　she　doesn't　do　that　kind　of　thing；
you　sure　let　loose！〃

She　let　out　a　breath　and　grinned；　feeling　oddly　calm。　〃I　guess　I　did。
You　have　a　way　of　doing　the　weirdest　things　to　me。〃

〃I　certainly　hope　so；〃　he　drawled。

〃　Ross…〃

〃Shh。　I've　heard　enough　from　you　for　a　while。　I　want　you　to　listen。〃

〃But…〃

〃Shh！　I　have　something　to　say。〃

〃You…umph！〃　The　breath　was　forced　from　her　by　a　squeeze　to　her　middle。
She　didn't　try　to　speak　again。

〃Better；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　listen。　I　realize　that　you　need　time；　and　I'll
give　you　that。　But　I'm　not　leaving。　Not　this　time。　I　want　to　get　to　know
you；　and　I　want　you　to　get　to　know　me。　We　blew　it　on　that　score　last
time。　But　yesterday　was　one　thing；　today's　another；　and　they're
different；　Chloe；　they're　different。〃

She　liked　the　sound　of　that。　Didn't　know　if　she　believed　it。　But　it　was
fine　for　the　moment。　Same　thing　with　sitting　against　one　another　this
way；　looking　out　over　the　last　of　the　sunset's　flaming　rays。　Ross
provided　support。　And　heat。　She　was　acutely　aware　of　his　long　legs；　his
strong　arms；　his　broad　chest；　his　warm　breath。　She　might　not　have　a
right　to　do　it；　but　she　savored　the　peace　of　the　moment。

So　maybe　today　was　different。　Certainly　they　were　eleven　years　older；
maybe　even　worlds　wiser。　But　Crystal　had　been　an　intrinsic　part　of　her
life。　To　forget　her　would　be　wrong。　It　was　more　a　matter　of　acceptance。
Could　she　accept　the　past　and　learn　to　live　with　it？

〃Well？〃　Ross's　baritone　hummed　by　her　ear。

〃Well；　what？〃　She　had　reached　her　saturation　point　and　couldn't　agonize
anymore。　He　nudged　her　ribs。　〃Don't　you　have　anything　to　say　for
yourself。？〃

Her　long　pause　was　nearly　as　effective　as　the　sigh　that　followed　it。　〃I
can　speak　now？〃

〃Speak。〃

〃That's　a　beautiful　sunset；〃　she　mused　aloud。　〃It's　a　treat　at　this　time
of　year；　all　warm　and　golden。　Do　you　have　any　idea　what　would　happen　if
the　ozone　layer　were　to　be　destroyed　by　the　haphazard　release　of　freon
gas？〃

〃Chlo　。。。　eee。〃

Before　Ross　could　respond；　a　call　of　concern　came　from　far　down　the
beach。

〃It's　Lee；〃　Chloe　explained　as　her　partner　loped　toward　where　she　and
Ross　sat。　Ross　made　no　move　to　hold　her　back　when　she　slid　from　his　grip
and　jumped　to　her　feet。

The　timing　couldn't　have　been　better。　With　those　legs　framing　hers　and
the　strength　of　that　body　a　serious　temptation；　her　diversion　into
envitonmental　quandaries　would　have　been　temporary　at　best。　Lee's
appearance　was　a　godsend。

Aware　that　Ross　had　risen　beside　her；　Chloe　kept　her　eyes　on　the
approaching　figure。　〃You　met　Lee　at　the　house；　didn't　you？〃　she　asked。

〃No；〃　he　said　with　something　of　a　grunt。　〃Another　character　let　me　in
and　directed　me　to　you。　Is　this　some　kind　of　mune　you　live　in？〃

Lee's　booming　call　spared　Chloe　from　having　to　answer。　〃Is　everything
all　right；　Chloe？〃　He　covered　the　last　of　the　distance　at　a　more
cautious　walk；　making　no　effort　to　disguise　his　wariness　of　an　equally
wary　Ross。　〃It's　getting　dark。　I　was　beginning　to　worry。〃

Chloe　absently　clutched　her　left　wrist；　a　habit　dating　back　to　the　days
when　she　wore　a　watch。　Her　fingers　easily　circled　the　bone。　〃Oh；　my。　I'm
sorry。　I　lost　track　of　the　time。　We　were　going　to…〃　Suddenly　aware　that
the　two　men　were　staring　at　each　other；　she　interrupted　the　thought　and
said；　〃Lee；　this　is　Ross　Stephenson。　We　knew　each　other　a　long　time　ago。
Ross　heads　the　corporation　responsible　for　the　Rye　Beach　proposal。〃　She
looked　at　Ross。　〃This　is　Lee　Haight。　Lee　and　I　co…own　ESE。〃

For　a　brief　instant；　she　pictured　the　two　men　squaring　off；　and　there
was　that　moment's　antagonism。　She　was　relieved　when　Ross　extended　his
hand。　It　was　met　by　an　equally　large　one　of　Lee's。

Chloe　was　struck　by　those　hands；　but　they　were　only　the　start。　The
physical　similarities　between　the　two　men；　each　of　whom　had　been
instrumental　in　shaping　her　life；　was　amazing。　Both　were　tall　and　lean；
both　had　athletic　builds。　While　Ross's　dark　hair　had　faint　wisps　of　gray
at　the　sideburns；　Lee's　highlights　were　more　auburn；　but　both　men　were
tanned　and　inordinately　good…looking。　Only　their　dress　differentiated
their　approaches　to　life。　Whereas　Ross　was　the　image　of　the　casual　male
of　the　more　traditional　school；　Lee　was；　in　appearance；　reminiscent　of
that　earlier；　more　nonconformist　phase　through　which　the　other　had
passed。　While　Ross　wore　slacks；　Lee　wore　denim。　While　Ross　wore　a　sports
shirt；　Lee　wore　a　T…shirt　emblazoned　with　an　apt　MAN。　Ross　wore　well　kept
loafers；　Lee　had　on　a　pair　of　battered　running　shoes。　And　then　there　was
that　neatly　trimmed　beard　of　Lee's　that　stretched　from　ear　to　ear；　much
as　Ross's　had　on　the　night　Chloe　had　met　him。

It　had　never　occurred　to　her　to　pare　the　two　men　before；　but　on　all
counts　the　likeness　was　astounding。

Apparently　Ross　saw　it；　too。　He　grinned　slowly；　almost　slyly。　〃It　looks
like　Chloe's　taste　in　men　hasn't　changed　all　that　much；　after　all；〃　he
said；　with　such　a　lack　of　malice　that　Lee　relaxed　a　little。

〃I　intend　to　take　that　statement　at　its　most　positive；　friend。　This
little　lady　is　very　near　and　dear　to　me。〃　He　threw　a　protective　arm
about　Chloe's　shoulder；　drawing　her　to　him　with　his　customary
possessiveness。　She　had　always　liked　that；　and　did　even　more　so　now。　His
presence　made　her　feel　less　vulnerable。　She　chuckled　when　Lee　added；
〃Are　you　friend　or　foe？〃

〃Friend；　by　all　means；〃　Ross　replied。

〃Then　I